A Malaysian activist was allegedly punched in the face by an express bus driver after reporting him for falling asleep behind the wheel.

Thomas Fann, an activist from non-governmental association Engage, said the incident occurred on Sunday when he was travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Baru.

He said the incident happened when the bus stopped at a traffic light.

“All other vehicles had moved but our bus remained stationary for about 10 minutes.

“Puzzled, I went to the front of the bus to investigate and found him soundly asleep. I had to shake him firmly a few times before he woke up,” he wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday night.

Fann said other passengers were concerned for their safety after he told them what had happened.

He then proceeded to lodge a complaint with the bus company and requested for a change of driver.

However, this did not sit well with the driver, who confronted Fann and allegedly tried to pull him out of his seat when the bus stopped near the Seremban toll.

“He wanted me to get off the bus for making the complaint and when I refused, he suddenly punched me on my left eye.

“Other passengers held him back as he continued to hurl abuse at me and tried to hit me again,” he said, adding that he had to get off the bus when it stopped for a toilet break in Pagoh and get on another bus to Johor Baru.

He said apart from making a police report, he had submitted a complaint to the Land Public Transport Commission and was now considering legal action against the bus company.

Fann also posted a photo of his left eye, which was visibly red and swollen.

The operations manager for the Penang-based bus company said he was aware of the incident and the driver had since been suspended.

“I wouldn’t want to comment much because it is already being investigated by the police,” he said.

Johor Baru South deputy OCPD Supt Rupeah Abd Wahid confirmed that the case is being investigated by the Seremban police district.